First Ugandan Shoebill captivity-laid egg set to hatch

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The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) says it is eagerly anticipating a historic moment as it awaits the hatching of the very first Shoebill egg laid in captivity at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (Entebbe Zoo).

According to a UWA statement, assistant animal keeper Hannington Bulemu, who monitors the progress daily, said March 9, 2026, marked the 39th day of incubation.

Typically, Shoe bill stork eggs incubate for 30 to 35 days, averaging about one month. Both parents share incubation duties, taking turns sitting on their clutch of one to three eggs.

The Shoe bill at UWEC reorganises the nest to create a better incubation environment. (Courtesy photo)

"In captivity, however, the incubation period can extend to around 45 days, as documented in 2008 at Pairi Daiza in Belgium, where the first captive Shoe bill successfully hatched".

The statement adds that the length of incubation varies depending on environmental factors, parental behaviour, and the timing of egg-laying.

"When multiple eggs are laid several days apart—a process called asynchronous hatching—parents may begin incubating before all eggs are laid, causing the eggs to hatch on different days rather than simultaneously".

Both Shoebill parents share incubation responsibilities and actively cool the eggs by wetting them with water from their beaks.

In the Background is the Male Shoebill at the nest as the female guards the surroundings. (UWA photo)

The UWA statement posted on its website says occasionally, inconsistent care such as leaving the nest unattended (egg neglect) occurs; while this doesn’t always impact the success rate, it can affect the incubation duration.

About the Shoe Bill

Shoe bill (Balaeniceps rex) is a large, stork-like bird native to East African wetlands, recognised for its enormous, shoe-shaped bill with a sharp, hooked tip used for hunting. They stand four to five feet tall, with an eight-foot wingspan and have grey plumage.

Shoe bills are monogamous during breeding but are otherwise solitary. They hunt by ambush, remaining motionless for hours before capturing fish, baby crocodiles, and snakes. The IUCN lists them as vulnerable, with an estimated 3,300 to 5,300 individuals remaining in the wild.

They exhibit a unique behaviour called urohydrosis, where they defecate on their legs to cool down. Generally quiet, they produce a loud, rattling, machine-gun-like sound with their bills, especially during mating.

Their primary habitats are swamps and marshes. Shoe bills can live up to approximately 35 years in the wild and up to 50 years in captivity.